mariganja

Hey all I'm a new outdoor grower, and I was wondering how exactly do you top a plant? I've seen it been done on a cupple of how-to-grow videos but they don't tell how to actualy do it they just explained why growers do it, it's supposed to grow 2 buds where 1 would normaly be right? That's what I was told. Well my question is, is how and where do I top the plant, and when should it be done? I start growing soon, and when my plants start getting bigger I'll take pictures of them and post them on here for yall to see.
thanks for the help

Eephus

Hey mariganja

To actually top or pinch your plant, look at the very top of it and find the new growth coming from the middle. Get a pair of tweezers or a sharp blade and just take off (literally injure the plant, rip off the new growth) the plant will take that as an injury and some sap will appear at the site of the wound. new growth should start growing in a week or two. Hope this helps, Cheers

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JohnnyTruant

How tall do you want/plan on your plants being by the end of the grow? The reason I ask is that topping your plant causes you to lose the most productive, highest quality part of the whole plant. Yes, the secondary growth will become your main growth, but it would be the same with the main cola still intact.

Also, is the height an issue because of security, because then i could understand wanting to top. I'd still suggest resorting to training your plant. Otherwise, let your plant grow into the outdoor monster it can be. I don't have any real experience with outdoor growing, but the sun is powerful enough to get the lower growth to bud nicely, even if it is a few yards from the top. Also if security is an issue, i'd suggest to start those plants around the beginning to a month into summer, and start them indoors. That way they can get established nicely, and the length of vegetative growth would allow them to be pretty nice-sized plants, but most likely would keep them to a manageable/safe height.

After all that, i imagine it sounds easier just to top your plants, but then imagine the HUGE, PHAT bud you'd pull off of your main cola if you kept it

Either way, good luck and keep us posted,
Truant

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johnny-0

Rather then top think about using wire horseshoes and growing your plants along (horizontal)to the ground.This works well and you can save your top!

mariganja

Hey all, thanks for the help. I just want to top the plant to get more bud out of the plant, height is not an issue but I wouldn't want monster plants. It's going to be a full-outdoor grow and I'm growing about 10-15 plants, my seeds are germinating in my pocket as I'm typing this write now lol. Oh and what to you mean by the "new growth in the middle" ? Like I said this is my first grow and I'm not very familar with the actual plant, I've only seen little sprouts in person...lol
Again thanks for the help
MG

JohnnyTruant

Topping your plant will not give you a better yield; it is actually taking away the MOST productive and best part of the plant. Many people will argue that it DOES increase yield, but from the aforementioned, this is not logical or true. The reason why it could seem this way is because an untopped and untrained plant will grow in a way that the undergrowth doesn't get enough light, hence less bud, thus topping seems to yield more. However, if proper training techniques are used, one will find that they can get multiple colas that are the same or better than the multiple achieved through topping--without losing the BEST part of the plant, the top cola!

The middle growth is the secondary and tertiary (and on and on if allowed) growth that doesn't make up the Main stem/cola. When trained, these areas can be just as productive and high quality as the top cola can be, making topping even less necessary in this situation.

I have to say, i'm not at all against people topping. I've heard of and seen great results with this technique. The fact is, it just doesn't have any use in some situations, or can be detrimental compared to what could have been. Maybe since it's your first grow, top some plants and train the others. Compare the results: maybe I'll end up being a total jackass with this post

And since this is going to be your first grow, check out some grow journals just to become a little more acquainted with the plant and with a complete grow. You will thank yourself later for the knowledge.

Truant

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Well, you can't have that, but if you're an American citizen you are entitled to: A heated kidney-shaped pool,a microwave oven--don't watch the food cook, a foolproof plan and an airtight alibi, a year's supply of antibiotics, a personally autographed picture of Randy Mantooth and Bob Dylan's new unlisted phone number, a beautifully restored 3rd Reich swizzle stick, Rosemary's baby, a dream date in kneepads with Paul Williams, a new Matador, a new mastadon, a Maverick, a Mustang, a Montego, a Merc Montclair, a Mark IV, a meteor, a Mercedes, a Mort Moriarty, a Maserati, a Mac truck, a Mazda, a new Monza, or a moped, a Las Vegas wedding, a Mexican divorce, a solid gold Kama Sutra coffee pot, or a baby's arm holding an apple?

buzzmobile

The only time that topping will yield two bud sites instead of one is while the plant is still in its opposite branching phase, before it reaches maturity and begins to alternate branches. Topping above the second and/or the 5th nodes works well. Don't let all of these trainers thwart your experiment. They still haven't learned about Toxic String Syndrome.

Bulldog

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mariganja

After reading everyones oppinion I've decided to top half my plants and leave the other half alone. Whitch ever I like better I'll continue to do with my next grows. What Truant was saying did kinda get me convinced with the whole big nugget and all. I can't wait.
peace

islanddreams

I've been having great results in bending the top over after about the fith node and tying it to the stem with a long twist-tie. I did it on a few and got 4 big colas instead of 1. It's like the best of both... you don't set the plant back by cutting it and you still make it bush out.
Will you add a few of these to your expirament and take photos of all of them for us?
Islanddreams